EmmaRose Crafts Blog

Hi,

We wanted to create a blog that would become a handy reference tool and for this reason you will find most of our posts relate to craft techniques and skills, with a few added extras here and there. We hope you find it useful and that you will visit often.

Calico in its truest form is an all-cotton fabric woven in plain, or tabby, weave and printed with simple designs in one or more colours. Calico originated in Calicut, India, by the 11th century, if not earlier. By the 17th and 18th centuries calicoes were an important commodity traded between India and Europe.

Often woven from cotton which has not been fully processed it may contain small particles of foreign matter, unseparated husk parts, for example. In modern times the term ‘calico’ is frequently used to refer to this fabric in its unfinished and undyed form, making it a relatively cheap but hard wearing material with a natural colour which fits in beautifully with most colour schemes.

CONCEPT BOARD

A pre-shrunk good quality calico is the material of choice. The overall look we wanted from this range was country cottage tinged with romance. Combining calico and lace is classic and has worked well in home furnishings for centuries.

Amy is the simplest cushion cover using lines of ribbon and lace either side of a trio of pin tucks. Bella is more complex and has both horizontal and vertical embellishment. Chloe is designed to cover a bolster, its shape and rosettes for decoration adding a different element to this set of three.

You will know you’re truly addicted to all things ‘yarn’ when you have a stash in danger of taking control of your one spare room! Aside from checking for moths – see my blog post on this very subject – you will get to the point where order needs to be restored. Listed below are a few tips which might help. (Note – it is always advisable that yarn in a stash is kept with its relevant ball band so you know what it is. If you haven’t been that organised in the past make a promise to yourself to do so in the future…you will be so grateful).

Dig out every ball, skein and scrap of yarn from your stash and organise it into groups such as yarn weight, make and colour.

Create a new pile of any you don’t want to keep. Depending on what it is and the quantity you could either;

1) give away the unwanted surplus to a knitting friend

2) create mini knitting kits to give as a present (include a pattern for something small enough to be made from the yarn)

3) take part in yarn swap (where you will get an alternative yarn to add back to you stash – possibly not helpful!)

4) sell at a car boot sale, or on the internet

5) give away to a knitting charity, or perhaps your local school

Create another pile where you can clearly identify projects, whether it is small items like accessories, toys, charity knits (like cat and dog blankets made from squares), or larger projects such as striped scarves, Fair Isle garments etc. Having made the effort to identify what is possible make sure you bag up each batch of wool with either the relevant pattern or a note to identify what the yarn will be used for (otherwise you’ll end up doing it all over again!)

Finally you will be left with the remaining stash that you want to keep but as yet have no plans for. Make sure the yarn is clearly labelled and placed in bags to keep it clean. Keep in a storage box until the next time!!